QPR eye move for Anelka: Redknapp confirms relegation threatened club are in talks with former Chelsea striker

Harry Redknapp has revealed QPR are in talks to sign former Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka in January.

The Frenchman wants to terminate his contract with Shanghai Shenhua after he scored just three goals in 22 matches and was replaced as player-coach of the Chinese side.

Redknapp admitted QPR are interested in Anelka, 33, but insisted Rangers would not pay over the odds for his services – despite being five points from safety with just one win in the Premier League this season.

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The QPR boss also joked that if Barcelona were interested in Adel Taraabt they would have to offer Leo Messi in a swap deal.

Redknapp said: 'Barcelona want him, do they? Maybe we’ll have a straight swap with Messi. We’ll do a deal. We don’t want to sell him. No-one’s made an offer for him. He plays here.

More seriously, he added: ‘Nicolas Anelka is a player who’s of interest to anybody. He’ s finishing in China so he’s available.

'It’s what you can afford and whether you think he can do the job you want. He’ s a top player so he’s a player we would be interested in, but whether we can afford it.

Looking to add: Harry Redknapp is expected to be busy in the transfer window

'I think the chairman (Tony Fernandes) knows Nicolas’ people. He’s got a few details on what it would be but it depends, just how expensive the whole package comes to. If it’s within reason he certainly could improve your team.

'Whoever we bring in here as got to be the right type. We can’t afford to load up again, with people who aren’t the right type. I’ve spoken to the chairman and Philip (Beard, the chief executive), but finding people is not easy.

'People think they can screw you into the ground because you’re desperate, because you’re going to get relegated, but we’re not going to fall into that trap. They’ll ask £6million when the player’s worth £3m.’

Redknapp confirmed technical director Mike Rigg and Mark Hughes’ assistants Mark Bowen and Eddie Niedzwiecki have left the club and said bringing in Ian Broomfield, whom he worked with at Tottenham, as chief scout was 'a possibility'. The QPR boss also wants former Rangers striker Les Ferdinand to join Joe Jordan and Kevin Bond in his backroom staff, as revealed by Sportsmail earlier this month.

Redknapp said: ‘We’ve got one or two good scouts here but you need your own people around you; people you know and can talk to all the time. At least you can bounce ideas off them, and that’s important.

Up and running: Adel Taarabt helped QPR to their first win of the season against Fulham at the weekend

'Last week was make or break. If we had got beat (by Fulham) last week it would have been double desperate. We’re desperate as it is.

'We need to improve the squad in Jan, we need to get a couple in that can help us make the difference. If we can’t find them we’ll stick with what we’ve got, if people are going to take liberties with us, screw us , if we’re desperate. And if we can do that, we’ve still got a chance.’

Goalkeeper Julio Cesar and defender Jose Bosingwa have both suffered minor back injuries that will rule them out of tomorrow’s trip to Newcastle United, although Redknapp expects both players to be fit for QPR’s home match against West Bromwich Albion on Boxing Day.